On February 17, Vasil Parfyankou, 27, was the first to be tried of about 30 protesters detained after a police crackdown on a December 19 rally in Minsk and who include four opposition presidential candidates.

He was sentenced to four years in prison.

The United States has criticized the trials as a further "negative step" by Belarus.

The Belarus Helsinki Committee said the sentence against Parfyankou was clearly politically motivated.